Taking lock-in to a new level

kwikbreaks

iPhones 'disabled' if Apple detects third-party repairs

No doubt those loyal to the Apple lifestyle will come up with reasons why this is a perfectly reasonable stance but for me it just makes me glad I chose Android.

Jivesinger

As I understand it, Apple were trying to plug a security hole whereby someone could switch the fingerprint reader for another fake one that always said 'yes that's the right fingerprint'. Otherwise a crook (a techie one with skills to disassemble an iPhone) could get your phone, switch the reader, and get into your data.

But they've gone about it in a horribly clumsy way which means many innocent people are locked out of their phones and data.

I've never been convinced by fingerprint readers and this sort of thing is not changing my mind. I'm also glad I don't have an iPhone.

buglawton

I find that a bit hard to believe as a plausible reason. Because the fingerprint pattern match is stored in the iPhone's memory and the yes/no question is answered by a software program, not by the fingerprint reader itself. In order to access that data you need to first log into the phone with PIN or valid fingerprint.

The hack would have to be more sophisticated: Swap the fingerprint reader, give phone back to owner, owner finds he needs to re-train the fingerprint reader, and it somehow supplies a fake fingerprint signature that any finger can later reproduce. Then get the phone back off the owner and log in with any fingerprint. Might apply to MI5 only.

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I also suspect that such a restriction from Apple would break an EU competition law (think: car servicing by 3rd parties under warranty - generally allowed) and a similar U.S. law or two. Has Apple really thought this thing through?

Jivesinger

buglawton wrote: »

I find that a bit hard to believe as a plausible reason.

It's possible that I misinterpreted what I read, which was this:

From: http://gizmodo.com/apple-confirms-that-if-you-mess-with-your-home-button-i-1757330938

Apple wrote:

We take customer security very seriously and Error 53 is the result of security checks designed to protect our customers. iOS checks that the Touch ID sensor in your iPhone or iPad correctly matches your device’s other components. If iOS finds a mismatch, the check fails and Touch ID, including for Apple Pay use, is disabled. This security measure is necessary to protect your device and prevent a fraudulent Touch ID sensor from being used. If a customer encounters Error 53, we encourage them to contact Apple Support.

buglawton wrote: »

Might apply to MI5 only.

Indeed - whatever security hole they were trying to plug, I think it would need fairly sophisticated hacking skills which you'd be unlucky to come across. Whereas many innocent users could be adversely affected by the change they've made now.

buglawton wrote: »

Has Apple really thought this thing through?

I'm guessing not...

Fightsback

Jivesinger wrote: »

I'm guessing not...

Yes they have, welcome to the Law Of Totally INTENDED Consequences.

It's all in the name of security, cough cough.

Oh well off to Android and to buy the extremely robust Motorola shatter proof display model while all those poor Appletards are crying into their broken screens and big repair bills.

Yolina

buglawton wrote: »

Has Apple really thought this thing through?

Probably not, but since when do they care? They always know better, right :rotfl:

patman99

Yet another epic fail by Apple. See their market share drop as affected users don't replace their knackered iPhones with new ones, but go the Android route instead.

tonyh66

it just works..................

kwikbreaks

tonyh66 wrote: »

it just works..................

... or did until you had a third party screen repair.

Roland_Sausage

kwikbreaks wrote: »

... or did until you had a third party screen repair.

More like it works until someone steals it and tries to bypass the security by changing the fingerprint reader.

Surely even the Apple haters can see why this would not be a good thing.

buglawton

Roland_Sausage wrote: »

More like it works until someone steals it and tries to bypass the security by changing the fingerprint reader.

Surely even the Apple haters can see why this would not be a good thing.

The phone could just revert to PIN mode and disable Applepay/the fingerprint reader. Remember, the fingerprint reader alone cannot 'pass' your fingerprint, it just sends the pattern to the IOS security program on the phone.

When I was recently in the market for an iPhone 5s it seemed that 20% of used examples were stated as working perfectly except for the fingerprint reader. It's the single most delicate/unreliable component.

Right now it looks like all backstreet iPhone repair shops have been put out of business. Don't travel abroad with an iPhone unless you're carrying a spare Android cheapie as a backup, as a quick screen or eaphone socket repair may brick your iPhone.